Color keeping slip-resisting solution

ABSTRACT

An aqueous solution for treatment of colored concrete, glazed enamel or porcelain surfaces to increase the coefficient of friction of that surface, whether dry or wet, to about 0.8 without deteriorating the color of the surface comprises about 1.5 to 1.9 wt % of ammonium bifluoride, 1.5 to 3.0 wt % of tri-ethylamine and a wetting agent in water. The degree of change of the color of the surface, treated seven minutes with the solution of the current application, measured by a color meter shows only 0.56 while the result of a commercial solution to increase the frictional coefficient shows 2.22. This means that the color change by the solution of the current application is undetectable by human eyes. Meanwhile, the change by the commercial solution product is detectable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a solution for treatment of colorfulglazed or porcelain surfaces to increase the coefficient of friction ofthat surface without deteriorating the color of the surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Most of the solutions used to clean and increase the frictioncoefficient of the surface of bath tub tiles, ceramics and cementseliminate organic materials and dirt from the surface of thosematerials. They contain strong acids and fluoro compounds to etch outthe organic materials from the micro-pores of the surfaces. U.S. Pat.No. 5,423,910 to Schiller illustrates a solution for the treatment ofcement, glazed or porcelain surfaces to increase the coefficient offriction of that surface, whether dry or wet, to greater than 0.6,preferably to about 0.8, wherein the solution comprises about 10%phosphoric acid, less than 40 grams of sodium bifluoride and a wettingagent in water. U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,891 to Kenyon, et al. illustrates amethod for cleaning and slip-resistant treatment of a mineral floorsurface including an untreated outer surface having an initial dynamiccoefficient of friction is provided. The untreated outer surface has aresidual film formed thereon which further includes bacterialcontamination. The method comprises first forming a treatment solutioncomprising ammonium bifluoride, iodine, phosphoric acid, and water.Then, the treatment solution is applied to the untreated outer surfaceof the mineral floor surface wherein (a) the amount of residual filmformed thereon is substantially reduced (b) the initial dynamiccoefficient of friction is increased by at least about 10%, and (c)bacterial contamination on said untreated outer surface is substantiallyeliminated for at least about 24 hours. U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,021 toDorsett illustrates formulations and methods for preventing surfaces ofnatural or mineral materials or cementitious products from becomingslippery, especially when wet. The formulations comprise anon-fluorine-containing acid; a fluorine-containing compound, hydrogensulfate or acetic acid; and a surfactant. U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,674 toWilliams, et al. illustrates an aqueous solution for treating andmaintaining floors, cleans the floor and restores an optimum coefficientof friction. The solution involves a restoring phase and a cleaningphase, in which the cleaning phase is performed using the same solutionas in the restoring phase, but in a diluted form. The solution isapplicable to cleaning solid hard floors such as those made of unglazedquarry tiles, glazed ceramic tiles and cement. U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,586to Coven illustrates one-step method of treating a surface to increaseits coefficient of friction without pre-treating the surface or rinsingor removing a treating solution, utilizes an aqueous solution ofammonium bifluoride, and allows the solution to remain on the surfaceuntil the surface has dried. Preferred methods of application areapplying the solution with a mop, by wiping the surface with a ragtreated with the solution and by applying a mist of the solution ontothe surface. None of the prior arts introduce a compound to preventdeterioration of the color on the surface to be treated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of current invention to provide a solution for thetreatment of colorful glazed or porcelain surfaces to increase thecoefficient of friction of that surface, whether dry or wet, to about0.8 without deteriorating the color of the surface that comprises about1.5 to 1.9 wt % of ammonium bi-fluoride, 1.5 to 3.0 wt % oftri-ethylamine and a wetting agent in water. The degree of change of thecolor of the surface, treated seven minutes with the solution of thecurrent application, measured by a color meter (Nippon DenshokushaZE-2000 model), shows only 0.56 while the result of a commerciallyselling solution that increases the frictional coefficient shows 2.22.This means that the color change done by the solution of the currentapplication is undetectable by human eyes while the change by thecommercial solution is detectable. By increasing the amount oftri-ethylamine added to the ammonium bifluoride solution up to 3 wt %,the frictional coefficient of the surface treated does not decreasesignificantly and stays around 0.81. The frictional coefficient wasmeasured with Slip Resistance Tester-Model XL manufactured by WilliamEnglish Inc. However, as the concentration of tri-ethylamine increasesto 4.5 wt %, the frictional coefficient dropped to 0.75. Theconcentration of ammonium bifluoride is fixed to 1.99 wt %. Using excessamount of ammonium bifluoride, over 4 wt %, deteriorates the color ofthe treated surface significantly. Degree of change of the colormeasured records 4.25 to 22 at 8 wt % ammonium bifluoride concentrationand 15 minutes of treating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

1. Preparation of the Sample Solution

2 wt % of ammonium bifluoride and 3 wt % of triethylamine are dissolvedin distilled deionized water and adjust pH to 5.5. Two groups ofsolutions are prepared. Group 1 is prepared as the ratio of distilledwater 4: solution 1 as described in the Posgrip®'s manual. Group 2 isprepared with 3 wt % of different surfactants and 2 wt % of ammoniumbifluoride in distilled and deionized water. Polyethylene glycol andpolyethylene glycol methyl ether were used for compare the effect ofsurfactants

2. Porcelain Tile Samples

Porcelain tile samples for measuring dynamic frictional coefficient aremade by Chunkwawng industrial Co., LTD's BES tile (pink coloredporcelain floor tile with a dimension of 300 mm width by 300 mm lengthby 8.0 mm thickness). Tile samples for measuring degree of colordeterioration are red tiles manufactured by Dongsu industrial Co., LTD.Product name is CERAMICA LUNA (Purple colored ceramic floor tile with adimension of 197 mm width by 197 mm length by 7.0 mm thickness.

3. Treatment of Samples

Wash the surface of tiles with distilled and deionized water and dry.Half side of the dried tile is covered with aluminum foil and sealedwith Scotch® tape to prevent wetting of the sealed surface by samplesolution. Spray the sample solution over the exposed surface of the tileand leave it in ambient temperature for 7 minutes and then 15 minutes.Wipe out the exposed surface of the tile with water and a wet towel.Remove the aluminum foil and Scotch® tape. Measure the dynamicfrictional coefficient and color of the treated surface and compare withthose of the sealed surface of the same tile. Dynamic frictionalcoefficient is measured by a slip resistance tester (Model XL, WilliamEnglish Inc., U.S.A) and degree of color deterioration is measured by acolor meter (Model ZE-2000, Nippon Denshokusha).

Table 1. shows the effect of concentration of ammonium bifluoride andtreating time on the frictional coefficient of the treated surface. Theconcentration of ammonium bifluoride was increased from 1.2 wt % to 4.0wt %. Tri-ethylamine was not added. Effect of treating time was measuredat 7 minutes and 10 minutes. TABLE 1 Ammonium bifluoride (wt %) 1.2 1.51.8 2.0 4.0 Treating 7 10 7 10 7 10 7 10 7 10 Times (min) Frictional0.748 0.783 0.783 0.803 0.820 0.830 0.830 0.853 0.826 0.843 CoefficientAs shown in Table 1, the frictional coefficient of the treated surfaceincreased with the treating time. The frictional coefficient increasesfrom 0.748 at 1.2 wt % of ammonium bifluoride concentration and 7minutes to 0.853 at 2.0 wt % of ammonium bifluoride concentration and 10minutes. However, as the concentration of ammonium bifluoride reaches 4wt % the frictional coefficient decreases slightly. This means thatammonium bifluoride over 2 wt % is useless for increasing the frictionalcoefficient.

Table 2. shows the effect of the concentration of tri-ethylamine on thefrictional coefficient of the treated surface. The concentration of theammonium bifluoride is fixed at 1.99 wt %. TABLE 2* Triethyl amine (wt%) 1.5 3.0 4.5 Slip fighter** Posigrip*** Treating 7 10 7 10 7 10 10 10Times (min) Frictional 0.813 0.835 0.813 0.833 0.753 0.805 0.833 0.830Coefficient*Ammonium bifluoride concentration is fixed at 1.99 wt %.**Finalized formulation.***Commercial product of other company.As shown in Table 1 and Table 2, the effect of adding tri-ethylamine isnegligible until the concentration reaches 3.0 wt %. However, as theconcentration becomes 4.5 wt %, the frictional coefficient decreasesdrastically. The final concentration of tri-ethylamine is fixed as 3.0wt %. Comparison with other commercial product shows equivalent orbetter frictional coefficient.

Table 3 shows the effect of the concentration of aluminum bifluoride onthe degree of deterioration of the color of the solution treatedsurface. Tri-ethylamine was not added to the solution. Treating time isselected as 7 minutes and 15 minutes. TABLE 3* Aluminum Bifluoride (wt%) 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 Treating 7 15 7 15 7 15 7 15 Times (min) Degree of1.42 2.43 3.68 4.25 4.18 6.72 7.48 22.0 Color Deterior- ation (ΔE)

As shown in Table 3, the degree of color deterioration increases withthe concentration of aluminum bifluoride at 7 minutes of treating time.When the treating time is increased to 15 minutes, the degree of colordeterioration increases exponentially. This means that if a user treatsa surface of colored surface of tile with a solution having highconcentration of ammonium bifluoride over 15 minutes by mistake, thecolor of the tile will be changed from the original color.

Table 4 shows the effect of tri-ethylamine added to the treatingsolutions containing different aluminum bifluoride concentration on thedegree of color deterioration. The concentration of tri-ethylamine isfixed as 3 wt % and aluminum bifluoride concentration is changed from 2wt % to 8 wt %. TABLE 4 AB*:TEA** Concentration (wt %) 2:3 4:3 6:3 8:3Posigrip*** Treating 7 15 7 15 7 15 7 15 7 Times (min) Degree of Color0.56 1.07 1.02 2.18 2.38 2.71 2.98 5.0 2.22 Deterioration (ΔE)*AB: Ammonium bifluoride.**TEA: Triethylamine.***Commercial product of other company.

As shown in Table 4, the degree of color deterioration increases as theconcentration of ammonium bifluoride increases. By comparing Table 4 andTable 3, it is clear that addition of tri-ethylamine suppresses thedeterioration of color. For 2 wt % ammonium bifluoride solution, thedegree of color deterioration reduces to less than half as 3 wt % oftri-ethylamine is added. This trend worsens as the concentration ofammonium bifluoride is higher.

Table 5 shows the effect of treating times with the solution of currentapplication and another commercial product. TABLE 5 Products SlipFighter* Posigrin** Treating Times None 5 7 10 5 7 10 (min) Frictional0.36 0.81 0.89 0.92 0.77 0.83 0.87 Coefficient*Product of current application.**Commercial ProductAs shown in Table 5, the aqueous solution of the current applicationshows increase of the frictional coefficient from 0.36 to over 0.81.That increase is slightly better than the commercial product.

Table 6 shows the effect of other surfactants compared with thetriethylamine to the dynamic friction coefficient and degree of colorchange. TABLE 6 Treating Degree Dynamic Aluminum Time of ColorFrictional Bifluoride (2 wt %) (min) Change Coefficient Tri Ethyl Amine7 0.56 0.813 (3 wt %) Polyethylene 7 2.16 0.65 Glycol (3 wt %)Polyethylene 7 1.93 0.71 Glycol Methyl Ether (3 wt %)As shown in Table 6, triethyl amine has the unexpected effect ofprotecting color while increasing dynamic frictional coefficient. Othersurfactants actually disturb the aluminum bifluoride while etching thecontaminated surface of tile but has no effect of protecting color. Onlytriethyl amine has desirable effect of color protecting and etchingcontaminated surfaces.

1. (canceled)
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 4. An aqueous solution, whichcomprises of a mixture of tri-ethylamine, ammonium bifluoride and awetting agent in water wherein the concentration of tri-ethylamine is 3wt %, ammonium bifluoride is 1.99 wt % and wetting agent is 0.1 wt %,for treating colored concrete, glazed enamel or porcelain surfaces toincrease the coefficient of friction of the surface from about 0.36 toabout 0.81 without severely deteriorating the original color bymaintaining the degree of color deterioration below 1.1.